es, I can easily manage it."

"A good quarter of a mile, I should say," replied Frobisher. "You could
fire a rifle in here and they would never hear it."

"I mean to do something like that," returned the other. He produced his
revolver, the muzzle of which he thrust against the keyhole, and pulled
the trigger, turning his face aside at the same time.

The explosion in that confined space sounded like the roar of a
twelve-inch gun, and dust and splinters flew in clouds; but when the air
cleared the lock was gone, and in its place a ragged hole appeared,
through which a clenched fist could easily be thrust. One or two strong
pulls, both together, while gripping the edges of the hole, sufficed to
loosen the whole affair, and presently, with a rattle of falling pieces
of broken iron and springs, the door grated open, and they once more
beheld the blessed light of day.

On stepping outside, they found themselves in the midst of a thick clump
of bushes and vegetation which completely concealed the door from
outside, and which had evidently not been disturbed for centuries, so
thick and matted was the growth. Through this they pushed and broke
their way, coming out a few moments later into what was evidently the
remains of a once-spacious and magnificent garden. There were still
traceable the outlines of old walks and lawns; ruined fountains and
marble basins for gold-fish were scattered about; and there were even
the remains of marble seats and couches whereon the warriors of Genghiz
Khan's retinue had been wont to take their ease during their
all-too-brief respites from fighting. Sundials, beautifully modelled in
bronze, and statues, in bronze, copper, marble, and in some cases even
solid silver, were to be found in many of the corners. A few were still
on their pedestals, but most of them lay broken on the ground, though
all gave evidence of the high level to which Chinese art had advanced,
even in those far-off days.

A quarter of a mile away was to be seen the palace the pair had recently
vacated, and, peering cautiously from behind a screen of brushwood, they
were able to make out the figures of some of the pirates, still
apparently searching industriously; while the smoke of a fire, a little
distance away, showed that they had by no means given up the pursuit,
but were cooking a meal preparatory to instituting a fresh search of the
palace precincts. They had not yet, apparently, thought of looking in
the ga